How to take the Hanoi to Laos Sleeper Bus
If you’ve ever thought about traveling overland from Hanoi ( Vietnam ) to Vientiane ( Laos ) by sleeper bus, well you are in the right place, where I wil l share tips I wish I’d known before I went. It’s long, sometimes uncomfortable, but absolutely memorable.
Let me walk you through step by step as through we’re chatting over coffee so you know what to expect, what to prepare, and how to survive ( and maybe even enjoy ) the journey.
Why bother taking the bus?
Before I dive into logistics, let me explain why I picked the bus over flying or other options.
- Budget-friendly: A flight between Hanoi and Vientiane is fast , but can be pricey. The sleeper bus route gives you a way to cross the border without blowing your budget.
- Slow travel & Scenery: The route takes you through remote countryside, sleepy villages, border towns things you’d never see from a plane.
- Adventure factor: There’s a certain romance ( or madness ) to riding through the night, dealing with immigration, sharing cramped quarters with strangers. If you’re in it for the story, this is gold.
- One continuous journey: No transfers, no changing modes ( in many cases ), just ride through, sleep, border, descend into Laos.
But yes – this is not a luxury experience. It’s rough in places. So here’s everything you need to know in order.
1. Booking Your Ticket & Choosing The Right Bus
Choosing your class / seat
When you search for “Hanoi to Vientiane sleeper bus,” you’ll see various options like “super sleeper,” ”semi-sleeper,” ”double sleeper beds,” etc. The general , mid-tier is often your best bet, comfort without paying for empty space. The cheapest ones sometimes force you to share a bed or accept extremely cramped layouts.
In my case, I went with a mid -price sleeper option. The fare was about 100,0000 VND ( around USD 38 ) . When you book, make sure the ticket includes these pick-up transfers ( hotel → station ), not just the main bus.
Where to buy tickets
This is the website where I mostly buy bus tickets and would recommed. When you buy your ticket, screenshot it. Always keep that in your phone gallery or file.
Also some hostels or guesthouses offer transport / bus-booking services. It’s worth comparing their price vs doing it onine yourself. Sometimes hostel agents get discounts or package deals. But always confirm that they are using a reliable operator.
First Time Flyring to Hanoi?
Timing & Buffer
Vietnam timekeeping is flexible ( i.e things are often delayed ). So don’t plan to arrive at the station right at departure time, arrive 20-30 minutes early. When I did this, getting there about 20 minutes before yet 30 minutes delayed. So, I went to the nearby cafe and waited. As you might probly know, there are loads of cafes in Hanoi, so don’t bother waiting at the ticket office instead enjoy your time at Cafe’.
First, taxi will come pick you up and one or two other people from the office to the bus station. They will give you a note ( as shown in picture ) where to get ticket (from which ticketing counter) at the station.
As soon as, you get the ticket, you have to find your bus immediately ( there will be no announcement for the departure time ). If you can’t find the bus, just ask the nearby people by showing your ticket, it will be more easier.
2. Before You Depart:Preparations
Visa from Hanoi to Laos
This part depends heavily on your nationality. Some nationalities ( especially ASEAN citizens ) may enjoy visa-free entry to Laos. If you need visa you can easily contact the office where you bought the ticket 7 days or 5 days in advance. They will take care it for you, you will just need to pay a few fee more unless you want to apply Laos visa by yourself.
Tip: Carry passport photos, photocopy of your passport, and USD/ local currency ready ( visa fees are often payable in USD or local currency). Also have your intended address in Laos ( your Hostel/Hotel/Airbnb ) because they may ask.
What documents / items to pack
- Passport + visa ( if needed )
- Ticket e-copy / screenshot
- A pen ( you’ll need to fill forms at immigration )
- Water, snacks, motion sickness pills
- Earplugs, eye mask ( for light and noise on the bus )
- Wet tissues
- Power Bank ( sometimes charger from bus doesn’t work )
3. The Journey Begins: Hanoi → Border
The bus leaves from Honai bus station around 18:00. The ride to the border gate can take 12- 13 hours ( or more, depending on stops, traffic, road conditions). The ride is often overnight, so you’re trying to sleep, but expect bumps, stops and occasional discomfort.
In my case, there were only one French tourist whom I became friend with and other two local people so there were no noises and smell promblems that you see from TikTok. Around early morning 7am, you will arrive at the border gate.
4. Border Crossing: The Hardest Part
This is where things can go sideways.
What happens at the border ( Vietnam side / exit )
- You get off the bus, wait in line for your Vietnam exit stamp.
- You just need to give your passport to your bus driver and wait together with your group.
- They will ask you a few fees $2-3 where you will get the stamp.If you don’t pay, they won’t let you across the border. ( This often happens in SEA, kind of a scam that you can’t advoid).
- When I do this, there were some tourists who didn’t want to pay for this since this is a scam and had conflicts with the officers. Please don’t do this, if you wanna across the border, you will have to pay eventually.
- Officers may check documents, ask questions ( normally they don’t ask ). Be polite, clear, and patient.
Laos side / entry
- After getting the Vietnam exit stamp, you will enter Laos immigration/immigration control.
- They will show you the way where to get the visa.
- Note: there are only two officer who do the visa stamping process. And people are cutting the lines.
- So, don’t let them do that if so, you will have to wait for hours.
- Me and my French friend had to wait for over 2 hrs since electricity went off and they were doing manually.
- Fill the form they give you and once done getting the stamp, board the bus again.
5. The Laos Leg: Border → Vientiane
Once you cross the border, the second half of the ride begins.
- The roads in laos ( especially in rual moutainous regions ) may be rough, winding, and slower than expected.
- There will be occasional stops for lunch, fuel, restroom ( not clean enough – be ready for that ). Use them wisely ( buy water, snack ).
- You will see the nature beauty of Lao along the long drive, so don’t sleep to not miss that amazing view.
- Expect to arrive in late evening around 5-6pm to the last stop.
- Just grab a taxi from there, it is cheaper than you think since uber and grab cannot be used there.
When I did this, by the time I reached Vientiane, I was exhausted because of the long drive and the weather is extremely hot.
6. What It’s Like On the Bus ( Sleep, Comfort & Realities )
- The bed layout is narrow. In many cases, “beds” are just slightly reclined bunks, often two levels one above the other.
- No WiFi
- Overhead lights or sounds may come on at stops – even in the middle of the night. That’s why eye mask and earplugs are lifesavers.
- The AC is usually from vents near you, which might not be strong. It can be cool, but often just “moderately air-conditioned.”
- You will be asked to take off your shoes ( they will give you plastic bag and a slipper ).
- Be careful with motion sickness and your butt might probably feel pain haha.
7. My Personal Experience
Let me share a bit of what / felt , so you can relate.
- At booking: I picked a mid-tier sleeper option. I took a screenshot of the ticket just in case if my internet doesn’t work.
- Boarding in Hanoi: I went to the ticket office and the pick up taxi was delayed which lead me to meet the Japanese tourist whom I become friend with. He’s not going to the Vientiane but to the other region of Laos.
- Night Ride: I was lucky enugh since there were no other tourist than one French friend so it was quiet along the way.
- Border Wait: To be honest, it is so dirty on both side of both border and no toilets either. Smelly and so much muds.
- Immigration: The exit/ entry procedure took around 3 hrs. Electricity went off and people cut lines which was annoying.
- Laos Scenery: But it was to worth to endure those moments to see the amazing view of Laos mountainous, remote area.
In my case, there were no other passengers and I got to meet Japanese and French friends – they had some travel experience and we swapped stories and it was so fun.
Would I do it again?
Nope – because I don’t like the moments of procedures at borders.
But it was totally worth to tried once.
If I didn’t, I wouldn’t meet those two friends.
Would I recommend to others?
Yes, at least experience once and do it with better preparations.
